Device for forming sound records



Feb. 12, 1952 Q wlTTEL 2,585,291

DEVICE FOR FORMING SOUND RECORDS Filed July 2, 1946 .FIG.1.

35 22 4A 1;- WVVVWVUV )4MPL/F/ER 5 53 FIG. 4.

56 57 17a OTTO WITTEL R INVENTOR Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR FORMING SGUND RECORDS Application July 2, 1946, Serial No. 680,929

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to recording, and more particularly to sound recording.

The principal object of the invention is the pro duction or formation of a sound-reproducing record from images of a sound Wave or combinations of such waves.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a sound reproducing member or record on which the individual sound records or Waves are recorded as continuous sound circles, each circle being independent of the other sound circles.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus and a method for producing sound-reproducing records from separate film strips, each strip having a single continuous sound record thereon.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more full described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View showing one arrangement for producing a record from a film strip having a continuous sound record or wave image formed thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view of one of the sound-bearing film loops from which the record is produced or formed;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing another form of sound record formed from the film loop illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 showing still another method of reproducing the sound records from the film loops on to a disk; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the light slit through which a beam of light is directed onto the film loop to project a small increment of the sound record therof onto the receiving member or disk.

Similar reference numerals throughout the various views indicate the same parts.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming sound records from photographic images of a continuous sound. The sound may be that of a musical note, either with or without its harmonics, but it may also be any continuous sound or vibration periodically repeated but which may Vary in amplitude, fre- K recorded on a master or original strip of photographic material in the usual well-known manner. This film strip is then out to a predetermined length such, for example, as that representing one second of time, checked for correct pitch, and then the free ends thereof are spliced together to form an endless loop or band. If necessary, the sound record may be retouched at the splice so as to provide a continuous unbroken record of the note or sound which may be repeated one or more times around the loop. Varione such loops are formed. each loop having a single continuous and unbroken image of the sound wave representing a single musical note or sound. Thus a separate loop will be necessary for each note or sound. These separate loops are then brought successively into the path of a light beam which progressively projects small increments of the image thereof onto a suitable receiving member of disk form which reproduces the image of each loop as a continuous unbroken sound image circle on the record or disk. The image of each loop is thus reproduced as a continuous sound image circle, the circles being independent and spaced radially and concentrically on the disk. This reproduction may be accomplished optically, electromagnetically, or mechanically, as will be later more fully described.

Fig. 2 shows one of the master or original strips H which is in the form of a photographic film, and has the musical note or sound record H2 formed thereon. The strip H is cut to proper length, preferably one second of time, and, after checking for pitch, is arranged in a loop with the ends is abutting. These ends are then joined Ll spliced together, in any suitable well-known manner, to maintain the strip in a loop form, as shown in Fig. 2. The splice is preferably made at the dense part of the wave so that it can be touched up so as to continue thetrue wave form across the splice, as shown at 14, Fig. 2. Thus each loop of film carries a continuous and unbroken photographic image of a musical note or continuous sound, as is apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2. This film loop with its sound image or record can then be utilized to form a duplicate sound record on a disk or similar reproducing membe To secure thi result, an image-receiving disk I! is positioned on the top surface is of a turn.- table L). A drive shaft or spindle 28 is connected to the turn-table and extends through a registering hole 2! of the disk so that upon rota tion of the spindle the turn-table and disk will rotate as a unit, as is apparent. The turn-table is is provided with an upstanding marginal annular flange 22 on which the loop of film l I may be placed. The height of the flange is slightly less than the width of the film H so that the image carrying portion IQ of the film ll will extend above the top of the flange, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The lower edge 23 of the film rests on and is supported by a lip or shoulder 24 of the turntable. Thus the film loop and the disk ll a1" supported on the turn-table l9 and will turn as a unit and in absolute synchronization upon rotation of the turn-table.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. l, the disk ll comprises a transparent base 25, such as glass, the upper surface of which is coated with a sensitized light-sensitive emulsion 26. With this arrangement, the sound image 12 on the strip H is transferred to the disk I! by optical means. To secure this result, a light source, such as an electric lamp 39 is positioned to the left of the film loop and in horizontal alignment with the sound portion 52 thereof. A condenser lens 3i and a plate 32 having a narrow light slit 33 are positioned between t'-e lamp 33 and the film loop, as clearly shown in Fig. l.

The obje tives 36 and 35 throw an image of the slit 33 onto the record ll with the help of prism as will be re dily apparent to those familiar with the photographic and optical arts.

When the turn-table i3 is rotated, the disk and the .1 loop a e rotated as a unit and in absolute syncnrcnisni. uring such rotation, the optical r erubers are stationary so that successive increments of the sound record i2 of the film loop are progressi 7' passed across the narrow light slit emulsion 26 to form a complete 1 the sound record I2. This image pparent, be in the form of a conmay be recorded on the emulsion 26 of the disl: H, the objectives 34, 35 and prism 36 are refocused so as to direct the recording beam of light to a point radially spaced from the previously recorder nd circles. The turn-table is again rotated to record the sound image of the second film loop as a second sound circle on the emulsion 25 of the disl: ll. This procedure is continued until the desired number of sound records or circles have been recorded. These sound records will be in the form of separate spaced and concentric oircles on the disk i1, each circle being a con .uous and unbroken record of a single sound or musical note. In order to secure uniform illumination to avoid steps in the printed or recorded sound circles on the disk H, the printing or" each loop is done over a great number of revolutions, and the light source is gradually increased and gradually decreased during the recording operation.

On a 12-inch record or disk l1, about forty separate sound records or circles may be reproducea or printed. For reproducing a full piano scal probably two such records would be reuired, while for other instruments, such as the violin, only one such record might be necessary.

be an exact reproduction of disk I l, and will con-- tain a plurality of separate and distinct concentric circles, each of which constitutes a single continuous and unbroken sound record or musical note.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the reproduction of the film loop is accomplished electro-magnetically. In this embodiment, the record receiving disk comprises a base 39 of a non-magnetic material on which are arranged a plurality of separate concentric rings 4 of a magnetic material such, for example, as steel. This disk may be made in several ways. For example, a steel disk can be soldered, welded, or otherwise secured to the non-magnetic base Etl'lCr grooves can then be cut through the steel islr leaving separate steel rings. 911 the other hand, magnetic materials can be deposited by eleotro-plating in rings on a non-metallic base. 01', grooves can be cut in the non-magnetic base, and these grooves can be filled with powdered magnetic material and sintered. In any event, the nonmagnetic base has formed or produced thereon separate concentric rings of a magnetic material, and is positionable on the turn-table l9 so as to rotate as a unit therewith and with the film loop in the same mann r as the arrangement shown in Fig. l and above described.

In this embodiment, a prism 41 directs the light from a lamp G2 to the lens-3i and the slit 33 of the plate 32 and onto the sound record 12 of the film loop carried by the turn-table. The light rays which pass through the sound record I! are directed towards a light-sensitive element such as a photo-electric tube 53 or other similar element which is affected by light variations. This tube is connected by leads 44 to an amplifier 45 which, in is connected by wires 46 to a source of power, not shown. Leads 4? connect the amplifier to a coil 4 which serves to energize and magnetize a member 46 having spaced fingers or pole pieces positioned on opposite sides of one of the rings 40. These fingers serve to magnetize the r ring in accordance with the particular valuations of th light of the tube 43. Thus the mag etizing of the ring 40 is in accordance with the sound records l2. As the latteis rotated past the stationary slit 33, the sound record I2 is progressively rei 'oduced magnetically on the ring 43 as cons nuous and unbroken sound record identical to the record l2. Additional sound records are suosec 'uently reproduced on the v as rings 39 by changing film loops and movn Y id to bring the fingers 5i! thereof in cooperating relation with different rings 4%. Thus each ring 4.".- has impressed or formed thereon a magnetic record of a single musical note or sound record. Here again, the reproduction is over a number of revolutions and the light intensity first increases and then decreases.

In the embodiment shown in F is wrapped around magnet 53 54 bet en which is pos ber 55 whi h carries a s to cut a groove in the surface 57 of th rep: ducing disk H, which, in this case, may be made of any suitable material similar to that used to make phonol. the coil 48 e poles vibr ting memgraph records. In this arrangement, the sound record 12 and the various film. loops are reDroduced as separate circular grooves in the surface '5. These grooves differ from the well- "IOWl'i phcnographic grooves in that they are and distinct circles, while the phonographic record sound groove is in the form of a continuous spiral. lowever, each circular groove an exact reproduction of the sound record of one of the film strips or loops from which it was repro duced. Duplicates of such a master record can be made in the same manner as now employed in making duplicate phonograph records from a master. Thus a number of duplicates can be formed for use in connection with sound reproducing mechanisms in which a stylus runs in the various sound grooves or circles.

The present invention thus provides an arrangement by which a plurality of separate continuous sound records or musical notes may be reproduced on a single record in the form of separate, independent, and distinct circles, each circle constituting a single continuous sound record of a musical note or suitable combinations thereof. Duplicates of these records are adapted for use suitable sound reproducing mechanisms in which the various sound circles may be selectively connected to the reproducing mechanism so as to be reproduced thereby to form a complete musical note or sound record. In this way, various musical instruments may be recorded and reproduced. The reproduction mechanism constitutes no part of the present invention and accordingly is not illustrated or disclosed. The present invention relates to only the formation of the master record or disk from which a plurality of sound duplicates may be formed for use in the sound reproducing mechanism. However, as the original sound record 12 may be made by a skilled musician the desired quality of the notes can be recorded on the disk and the same quality note can then be reproduced by a less skilled musician and even by a novice. Thus, an ordinary person can reproduce the same quality of musical note as originally recorded by the skilled musician.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details disclosed, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 0

1. A device for forming a sound-reproducing record comprising, in combination, a strip of photographic film arranged in the form of a loop and having formed thereon a continuous unbroken sound track, a turntable, an annular rim on said turntable for supporting said loop with the record thereof overhanging said rim, a member positioned on said turntable, said turntable being rotatable to move said strip and member in unison, and means for scanning said track and to direct the scanned image toward said member for progressively reproducing the track on said strip in the form of a continuous unbroken image circle on said member.

2. A device for forming a sound-reproducing record comprising, in combination, a turntable having a flat surface, a marginal annular upstanding rim formed on said turntable, a strip of photographic film arranged in a loop and haying formed thereon a continuous unbroken sound record, said p being positioned on said rim with the record thereof overhanging said rim, a fiat disk supported on said surface, a light sensi tive coating positioned on the upper side of said disk, and optical means for projecting the sound record on said film onto said coating in the form of a continuous unbroken image circle.

3. A device for forming a sound-reproducing record comprising, in combination, a rotatable fiat support, a recording disk positioned on said support, a recording surface on said'disc, a strip of flexible material having formed thereon a sound record, said material being arranged a loop and with the ends spliced together to form a continuous sound record, means on said support for holding said loop, said support being rotatable to move said loop and disk in synchronism, and means including. optical members for projecting the record on said loop onto said surface in the form of a continuous unbroken sound image circle.

.4. A device for forming a sound-reproducing record comprising, in combination, a turntable, a record receiving disk positioned on said turntable, a recording surface on said disc, a plurality of light transmitting sound-image carrying members individually and selectively positioned on said turntable, each member comprising a light transmitting strip with the ends thereof being spliced together to form a loop to provide a continuous sound track record, and means including optical members for progressively projecting the sound records of the various loops as separate independent sound track circles of continuous sound on said surface.

OTTO WITTEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,213,614 Fritts Jan. 23, 1917 1,218,324 Severy Mar. 6, 1917 1,555,281 Engl et al Sept. 29, 1925 1,734,675 Hull Nov. 5, 1929 1,963,079 Duke June 19, 1934 1,967,239 'Hardy July 24, 1934 2,014,741 Lesti Sept. 17, 1935 2,229,293 Huntley et al Jan. 21, 1941 2,270,996 Dallenbaoh Jan. 27, 1942 2,273,863 Herzig Feb. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 384,979 Great Britain Mar. 9, 1931 594,015 Germany 1 Mar. 8, 1934 

